I have always known that my Japanese pronunciations were way off, being taught by people with either a Texas drawl or a Cubano accent. I have had to improve my pronunciations here in Hawaii, where the people I train under actually speak Japanese. They make it part and parcel of the classes, because to them learning an art with Japanese roots is silly without learning a bit of the language and culture (language and culture are often intertwined enough that insight into one can help with another). That's why we're doing Osoji this weekend. Of course, that is also a good excuse to get the place clean and eat a big potluck, but that's beside the point.

Learning Japanese as spoken and as kanji also helps immensely when dealing with the danzanryu jujitsu boards. It prevents bad translations turning into misunderstood techniques. I suppose I'll get there one day. For now, I'm still working on translation. Kanji remains a future goal. When I notice that my lack of ability to write kanji imperils my ability to respect others, I'll make sure and do something suitably Japanese to make up for it. Maybe some mochi pounding....

I don't expect everybody to learn the entire Japanese language just the basic etiquette and throws and locks.
As for tradition we must keep up the basic mat etiquette for example rai onto and of the mat , not coming onto the mat until invited.
These things need to be upheld , I once went to a class and I entered the class where they were playing"number of the beast" by iron maiden this was just not right.

Read my posts again. I NEVER said it needs to be eliminated. I never said it was unnecessary. I NEVER said it was wrong. I said it could be debated, regardless of what Bodhi just typed and that is all.

I said, if it disappears, honor, respect, tradition, culture and now the newly minted "mat etiquette" are not "lost." I do not know how to make it ANY CLEARER.

Yeah, it's a little different with JSA. In Canada and the US, most of the top kendo and iaido instructors are Japanese immigrants, so there is a real strong connection there. We also pretty regularly have seminars with guys from Japan with little or no English.

You "get it"...yay!

Sometimes, the language divide is the best way to learn a martial art. When the instructor can't wax on eloquently about the efficacy of said technique/waza/kata/whatever...he's forced to show it to you, over and over again. No words spoken, just observation and doing.

Watch his footwork. Watch his posture. Watch his hands. Watch his timing. Watch, watch, watch. If he's full of ****...it'll become very obvious very quickly. He can't bullshit his way through. That's how you know if you have a qualified instructor...someone who can prove that he knows his ****.

But more onto topic of this thread: the use of Japanese nomenclature is a good thing to retain if one is studying a traditional Japanese martial art. Why re-invent the wheel by trying to make labored English translations for the lazy or xenophobic?

On the other hand, inventing a pseudo-Americanfried Japanese syllabus that will supposedly imbue you with the samurai virtues of: honor, loyalty, duty and whatnot by merely uttering said phrases and doing riduculously dramatic bows and such...uh, no.

Don't be a ***** ass meathead. If you're learning a foreign art, learn some foreign language. The good thing about knowing the source language is that people from all over the world can train together & at least have technical knowledge in common.

"Judo is a study of techniques with which you may kill if you wish to kill, injure if you wish to injure, subdue if you wish to subdue, and, when attacked, defend yourself" - Jigoro Kano (1889)
***Was this quote "taken out of context"?***

"The judoist has no time to allow himself a margin for error, especially in a situation upon which his or another person's very life depends...."
~ The Secret of Judo (Jiichi Watanabe & Lindy Avakian), p.19

"Hope is not a method... nor is enthusiasm."
~ Brigadier General Gordon Toney

Read my posts again. I NEVER said it needs to be eliminated. I never said it was unnecessary. I NEVER said it was wrong. I said it could be debated, regardless of what Bodhi just typed and that is all. I said, if it disappears, honor, respect, tradition, culture and now the newly minted "mat etiquette" are not "lost." I do not know how to make it ANY CLEARER.

Actually, you would lose honour....the "honour" of being called a "weeaboo".